Sheet holder for mattress ensembles



Oct. 21, 1952 w. w. RoslNG SHEET HOLDER F OR MATTRESS ENSEMBLES Filed June 8, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l www Y mneforl- Warren' Wl I (Ittomeg Oct. 2l, 1952 w. w. Ros'lNG SHEET HOLDER F'OR MATTRESS ENSEMBLES.

' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1951 qventor WQZTQZ? VIDOS/13g Gttorn'eg W. W. ROSING SHEET HOLDER FOR MATTRESS ENSEMBLES Oct. 2, 1952" 3 Sheets-Sheeil 3 Filed June 8, 1951 OO nngntor N Waffen W 05112@ Gttorneg Patented Oct. 21, 1952 N1: OFFICE SHEET HOLDER FOR MATTRESS f ENSEMBLES Warren W.`Rosing, Buffalo, N. Y. "Application Janes, 1951, serial N9. 230,447

1 8 Claims, i 1

This invention relates to. improvements inmattress ensembles, that Tis to say, a combination which Yconsists of a mattress andv a supporting element upon which the mattress rests, thesupporting element being a boxspring or a rigid supportingframe restingupon, and freely removable from, anges or shoulders provided upon the side rails'of the. bedstead. .The invention is directed to armattress' ensemble which includes as a permanent partI thereof a novel .and advantageous bottoml sheet holding. .feature .carried by and in ,cooperati'n with the .supporting element.

1 Broadly speakingy mattress ensembles are o two'types, one in which the mattress is freely removable 4'fromv the supporting element and the other in which the lensemble is unitary in that the mattress is permanently-connected to 'the supporting element-Ensembles of the unitary type include. a form which has a boxspring and in which the lines of connection between the mattress and the top fabric of the box spring are several inches distantv from their sidesand ends,V

thereby leaving theirr marginal portions in unattached relationin order to provide intervening marginal recesses. Ensembles ofthe unitary type also include other forms which utilize a box springl or a rigid supportingframe--and in-which the marginal recesses are not provided, the mattress and itssupporting element beingrenclosed within a tightly t'ted fabric casing. y

In making the bed it is desirable, as a matter of neat and attractive appearanceand also as a matter of'comfort in use, that the bottom sheet as laid upon the mattress be smooth and, with its four vcorners mitered, that its projecting side portions be held by the ensemble, thereby to maintain the sheet under tensionV and against free displacement.

In the construction in Which the .mattress is freely `removable the practice is to tuck the extending portions of thebottom sheet between the adjacent faces of ,theside marginal portions of the mattress and its supporting element. In this caseA the weight of the mattress is relied upon to hold the bottom sheet. In the unitary construction -in which the marginal recesses are provided the marginal portions of the mattress and the box spring have a certain measure of resiliency and thereby `tend Vto press firmly against one 'an'- other and to close the" recesses; and the'practice is to tuck thebottom sheet intothe marginal recesses atth'esides ofthe ensemble. In this case the marginal portions of the mattress and the bos spring tend tcseizejthetucked-n parts 4of.

the bottom sheet and hold them with frictional clamping pressure. I l Y Due to the necessity ,ofmtucling.thenbgttgm sheet` between the mattress anditslsuppou ing.` element or within the marginal recesses provided bythemattress and thebox springnthlew rljrrof properly making the bedvrequires a I dile amount of time and care and is quite Mla ricus and tiring since in tuckningin.v the bottomJsheet the yeffortdis opposed'by the Lweightv4 of the 'mattress or by the resiliencyof thepartsof the mat. tress and the box spring Uwhich provide the, alls of the marginal'recesses,it being'bo'rne ind that this Work must-besoperform'ed Vas to Aeffect the tensioning of thebottcym sheetand't'o. avoid disturbing the smoothness'V of 'the' sheetsland blankets.` In many cases i',he'rpre'ssure',wiV which the sheet is held is 4not sufficient tlprevent'fdis'- placement of theshet thenc'iocl'ipart of the bed shifts his position from timeft'o .In the unitary type'hwherein the-marg na r'ecesses are not providedfithenly vvayI hich the bottom v sheet can be` v held,.v'a'ga`inst displace# ment isby. the use of .pinsenga'g'ed withlthe 'falzric covering this isobjectional both Yas bein'g laborious and because of the liabilityf. oftearing, thev sheets and blankets or the'Y covring. .of the mattress ensemble,y particularly` ,rir'illiconnection' withy changes of v sleepingr or ,resting psit'insiby the occupant of the bed. I

The objectof the invention is to provide a bottom sheet holderof novel and advantageous construction asv apermanent part of amattress enf semble of any of the forms abovedes'cribed and which is carried by and in cooperation Withthe mattress supporting element. The Lnovel rcon,- struction of the holder and its novel relation yin and as a part of the mattress ensemble achieve advantages as follows, viz., substantial reduction in both the time and labor which has beenheretofore required in securing lthe bottom sheet; a

substantially more effective retentionof the bot' tom sheet, minimizing the liability of itsdisplaceej ment in consequence ofchangesk of* position. byl the occupant ofv the bed; structuraly simplicity;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mattress enf-f semble in. accordance with'the invention,g this.

of the exible stays for the fabric part of the holder.

Figure 4 is a detail cross sectional view. onthe line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevationaly view looking at the inner face of the bottom sheet holder and showing details of the. connections .1 between adjacent end edges of the attacheclfabricA part of the holder.

, Figure is a fragmentary perspectivevew of thev ensembleY showing the manner in which the bottom sheet is secured by the holder.

` Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross sectionaliview showing an alternative form of mattress structiri-e.v

'n Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing another Valternative form of mattress structure.

"Figure 9 isa fragmentary cross sectional view showin'gna mattress ensemble in which the'supportingfelement is a rigid frame, the section -being taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.-

"Figures lfto y1'3 show a modified construction of the bottom sheet holding feature.

*'Figure 1`0is a perspective view of a mattress ensemble" in accordance with the invention in which the modified4 construction of bottom sheet holdingfeature is incorporated.`

VFigure '11 is a fragmentary horizontal section ontheline II-II rof Figure 10.

"Fig'ure v12 is a fragmentaryv sectional view on theline' I2 `I2 of Figure 11.

` Figure 13 is` afragrnentary sectional view similarV to Figure l2 but showing the rensemble in accordance with the construction shown in Figure 9fwherein the rmattress supporting element is ja. rigidframe. Y

' 'Thel mattress I may be of any desired known construction. Figures 2 and 9 ,show a mattress composed of an appropriate number of layers 2 of felted material e. g. cotton. Figure v 7 shows aspri'ng mattresshaving the usualcovering 3 composed of a suitable number ofrelatively thin layers of felted'material. Figure 8 shows a mattress composed of resilient material 4 such as foam rubber.

The mattress supporting element 5 may be a box spring 6 (Figure 2) having at its upper side the usual wear and noise preventing elements 'l against which the springs 8 react and upon which the'mattress I rests and having the usualbottom frame. 9 which is preferably composed of wooden parts. Alternativelyv .the mattress supporting element may be a rigid frame I (Figure), economically made of wood, which includes vertical sideand end walls II and cross slats I2 or mechanically equivalent partsrextending between the side walls and suitably secured to their upper faces, the slats4 I2 or their mechanical equivalentsbeing thev parts upon which the mattress I rests..v

In the forms selected forrillustration the mattress I and its supporting element are enclosed within a tight tting cover 'I3of suitable-fabric, the lower edges of which are inturned under and secured to the supporting element 5. In the construction shown in Figure 2 the inturned lower edges of the cover I3 are secured to the frame 9 and in the construction shown in Figure 9 they are secured to the lower faces of the vertical walls I I. The cover I3 as thus secured aids in maintaining the unitary assembly of the mattress and the supporting element.

The bottom sheet holder is so combined with the supporting element 5 as to provide an external pocket I4 preferably substantially lineally coextensive with the vertical walls of the supporting element, these walls being the inner walls of the pocket I4. The pocket is completed, that isto say its outer walls are provided, by a strip I5of suitable fabric which in the construction preferred circumscribes the supporting element and isA yieldably maintained in adjacent relation to its outer vertical faces and in the modified construction, later described, extends lineally along'the side and lower end wallsof the supporting element and is yieldably maintained in adjacent relation to their outer vertical faces. The Vlower edge portion of the strip I5 is attached throughout the lineal extent of the strip to the lower portion of the supporting element, its attached portion providing a closed bottom for the pocket I4. In the construction'shown inFigure 2the lower portions of the strip I5 are turned under Vthe element 5 and secured to they frame 9 and in the construction shown in Figure`9 they are turned under the vertical walls II and secured to their-lower faces. The same fasteners may be used for securing'both the cover I3 and the strip VI 5." The'vertical extent of the strip I5 is such that the pocket I4 is of ample depth for the reception in at relation of the marginal portions of the bottom sheet.

Except for the attachment of its lower portions the strip I5 is free relatively to the supporting element. According to the invention the strip I5 carries near its upper edge an elastic bandIB foi` applying frictional clamping pressure to the bottom sheet. In the preferred construction the band I6 encircles the mattress supporting element 5, extending adjacent its outer vertical faces. The element 5 maintains the band I 6 under tension and the band I6, as so maintained under tension, is substantially lineally coextensive with the strip I5. In making the bed the upper portion of the strip I5 is vpulled outwardlyor laterally away from the supporting element 5 at various successive points along its extent, thereby in each operation to open the pocket I4 through an appropriate lineal extent and permit the arrangement within it of the hanging portions of the bottom sheet. The strip I5 may be manipulated in this manner because its terminal vertical edges I9 are free relatively to the supporting element 5 and hence its terminal portions are free to yield relatively to one another when the strip I5 is pulled away from the supporting element 5. When that portion of the strip I5 which has been pulled away from the supporting element 5 is released it is brought back by the band I6 into adjoining relation to the opposing face of the supporting element 5; and when the manipulation of the strip I5 is completed, i. e. when the bed has been made, the free terminal portions of the strip are returned to their orignal relation in which the strip is held at. rlhis return to their original relation of the free terminal portions of the strip may be effected by` elastic connections, later described in detail. Thus the innerwalls of the pocket Mwhich are provided by the supporting element 5 are relatively fixed and .the outer 'Iwallswhi'ch are'lprovided by the strip I5 .are flexible and yieldable. V'.In the construction preferred the band I6 is endles. IA rubber band is shown as a practical example but it will be understood that other well known forms may be used such as a band of elastic fabric or a coiled spring band of small diameter. rIhe band I6 may be associated with the strip I5 in any suitable manner and the pocket I4 extends a substantial distance below ,the band and is therefore relatively deep. As .shown the upper portion of the strip I5 is of two-ply construction (Figure 4), the inner ply ,Il 4being preferably integral with the strip I5 and inturned adjacent the inner side of the pocket; and the plies are secured together by `stitching which is so arranged as to proivde near the lower edge of the inner ply a sheath I8 lineallywcoextensive with the strip I5, the walls of the sheath being provided by the plies. The band I6 is loosely tted in the sheath I8 which thereby provides a means of operative connec- .tion between the band l5 and the strip I5 and permits relative sliding movement of the band and the strip when the strip, during the making of the bed, as later described in detail, is pulled away from the mattress supporting element 5. In the preferred construction wherein the strip I5 substantially circumscribes the supporting element5 its end edges I9 (Figure 5) are closely adjacent and may, for convenience, be referred toas meeting edges although they do not necessarily meet in a literal sense. In this construction the adjacent free terminal portions of the strip kI5 are connected by tensioned elastic means such. for example, as one or more short transverse strips 20. of elastic fabric which extend across the space between the edges I9 and at their ends are secured to the strip I5 at points suitably adjacent the edges I9. rIhe ends of the sheath I8 are open and the band I5 extends across the space between the edges I9.

The strip I5 is preferably provided along its upper edge with a continuous bead 2I which, in addition to having an ornamental quality, enables the upper edge portion of the strip to be readily grasped and pulled away from the cover I3 when portions of the bottom sheet are to be inserted into the pocket I4. The bead 2I is coinposed of a strip of suitable fabric, being bent upon itself with its plies secured by stitching to the inner ply I1 and the bead 2I projecting upwardly to a suitable extent beyond the upper edge of the strip I5.

The elastic band I6 is ideally positioned with its axis in a horizontal plane prescribed by the vertical extent of the strip I5 and parallel to the horizontal plane of the supporting surface of the mattress I. Thereby the pocket I4 is maintained at its maximum depth and the retaining pressure exercised by the band I6 is uniform throughout the lineal extent of the band. In orderthat this relation may be positively maintained it is preferable to employ in association with the strip I5 a suitable number of flexible and resilient vertical stays 22 which may vbe arranged at desired intervals along the sides and ends of the ensemble. These stays may be economically provided as dat flexible strips of plastic material which due to their resilience tend to occupy true normal planes and are unyielding -from edge to edge and from end to end but which may be readily flexed along any transverse line andin eitherdirection from their normal planes. 'Thek Stars 22 are prefereblysemired.tothe strip Cil I5 in the manner and relation shown inthe' draw-- ing (Figure 4). Thus they are` arranged adjacent the innerfaces ,of thestrip I5 and their upper portions project into the sheath I8, being located behind-the band I6, thatis1.to say between the band I6 and the strip' I5, and being se: cured by one of the [lines of stitching which secures the ply I'I to the strip I5 and delimits the sheath I8. The stays 22 projectr downward from the `sheath I8 and at their lower :ends react againstthe inturned lower portions of I thestrip I5, the stays 22 being bentunder and suitably ,attached to the supporting element, for example, by the same fasteners which secure the strip I5. Any tendency during the insertion of partsof vthe .bottom sheet into the pocket I4 toward down#u ward displacement of the band I6 is compensated by the stays 22 which react against the bottom of the pocket I4 while at the same time these stays, due to their exibility, will oppose no appreciable resistance when the strip I5, is pulled away from the cover I3 or-,when it iis drawn toward the cover by theelastic action of the strips 20. In order that the ensemble may be conveniently lifted from the bedsteadbails or hand grips 23, are provided in accordance with theusual practice. These, however, are attached to the outer faces of the strip I5 at the sidesv of the ensemble.

Figure 6 shows the manner in which the bottomsheet S is fitted and Lsecured in the pocket I4. This gure shows the sheet mitered as atM at one of its lower corners and with its pendant sides and lower end portion inserted intov the ,j pocket I4. As Vthus inserted the sheet will be firmly held by the band IB which exercises suitable retaining pressure due to the fact that itis maintainedunder tension by the mattress supporting element. In effect the portions ofthe Isheet within the pocket I4 are frctionally clamped by the band I6 in cooperation with the adjacent vertical faces-of the mattress supporting element. When the sheet is to be insertedV into the pocket I4 the upper portion of the strip I5 is grasped and, together with the band I6,

pulled away from the adjacent vertical face of the mattress supporting element, thereby opening the pocket I4 to a suitable extent. This action is permitted by the loose t of the band I6 in the sheath I8 whereby when the strip I5 is pulled away from the mattress supporting element the band and the strip are relatively slidable. `It is als-o permitted by the elastic connections 20 which yield or stretch when the strip I5 is pulled away from the mattress supporting element and draw the meeting edges E9 together when the manual pull upon the upper portion of the strip I5 is released. The stays 22 will of course yield or ex when the strip is thus pulled away from the mattress supporting element. When the strip I5 is released the band I6 springs back into its func'- tional position in which it closes the pocket I4 and exercises retaining pressure upon the sheet; the strip I5, maintained. under pulling stress by the elastic connections 2li is brought back by these connections into adjacent relation to the Walls of the supporting element, that is to say its edges are drawn together since the strip may slide relatively to the band I6 which is loosely tted in the sheath I8; and the lstays 22 spring back into their normal true planes in whichthey are straight and substantially vertical and will thereby hold the strip I5 fully extended in the vertical direction and insurel that the band1|6 is positionedwithy its axis in a horizontalplane prescribed yby theQverticaleXtent ofthe strip' I5 and parallel tothe horizontal plane of the supporting surface' ofthe mattress I Referring toFigu'reslOlto 13: 4 These figures.illustrate.amodication in which the .essential distinguishing features. of constructio'n and operation as above described are incorporatedbut wherein the strip, heredesignated I a,fwhich providesthe pocket I Il,` does not completelyvcircumscribe'the mattress supporting ele'- nient but instead adjoins its side walls and foot Wall.l In this* construction,therefore,l the strip IliaV does not have meeting end edges such as the edgesIS of. thestripA I5.- VThe connectionsl of the 'preferred lconstruction haver-their equivalent in the -modied'construction in elastic-connections Zca which arev preferably of elastic fabric and are .attached to the freeterrninal portions ofthe strip I5a and to the supporting element 5. Thepoints atwhich .the connections 20a are attached to theelement 5 may be at the rear ends of its side walls vbut are preferably, as shown, at the outer ends `of its upper or head end wall. The attachment of the connections 2Ilato the supporting'element 5 is preferably effected by detachable fasteners. In the-construction shown in Figures 1 1 and 12 which assume that the 'mattress supportingelement is a box spring these fasteners, shown at 24, may conveniently be of the'ball and socket type vwith the socket elements carried by the connections a and the ball elements 'carried bythe fabric cover of the ensemble. In the'construction shown in Figure 13 which assumes that the mattress supporting element is a rigid frame, such as is shown in Figure 9, the :1.

fasteners may be tacksV 24a which are readily re'- movable and have theirlshanks driven into the adjacent wall of the supporting element. A

AIn themodified construction the tensioned band, here designated vI 6a, which exercises clamping pressure upon the bottom'sheet is preferably of elastic fabric and is fitted ina sheath of the construction above described. The modified constructionr` followsY the preferred construction by having the band Ita loosely fitted in the sheath, thereby 'to permit a relative sliding movement between it and the strip I5a. Accordingly the ends ofthe band- I6a project beyond the ends of the sheath and are attached, as by stitching, to the connectionsla. Each of the strips of elastic fabric whichprovide these connections is preferably bent upon -itself to provide an extension 2Gb to which the ends of the band Ia are attached. I y j The detachable fasteningsfor the attachment of the connections 20a to the supporting element 5 enable the ready disconnection of the ends of the strip I Sain the event that it be desired to replace a worn bandita by a new one.

The .modified construction isotherwise similar tothe preferred construction abovedescribed and hasthe same operative characteristics, `both'in respect Yto .the making yof the-.bed and the retention ofthe bottom sheet when the bed is made. The .holding of the marginal portions of the bottom .sheet as. above described Y is a matter of necessity when the bedisproperly made.

Whether the top sheet or a vblanket or blanketsv blanket or `blankets should. be .mitered separately from. the bottomY sheet sinceA they must 'be freed, without disturbingthe bottomsheet, fromtthe bottomV sheet holding means when the bed is to be occupied.

l..-A mattress el semble consisting of a mattress, a supporting element upon which the mattress rests and bottom sheet holding means carried by and cooperating. withthe mattress supporting element, such-means comprising a strip of fabric extendingadjacentfthe sides and at least one end of the supporting element and having its lower edge portion attached `to the'supporting elementadjacent its bottomfthe strip cooperating with the-adjacent vertical faces of thev supporting'- element to provide la continuous externally located ypocket-for the reception -of the pendant parts of the sheet and of a depth in which said parts -may be fitted in flatv relation with mitered corners,- the strip providing flexible outer walls of the pocket and the vertical faces of the mattresssupportingelement adjacent the strip providing iixedinner walls of the pocket, the lower edge portion of the strip as attached tothe supporting element providing a closed bottom for the pocket, a band of elastic material carried byV the, Astripenear its upper edge and norniaiiy positioned with its axis in a horizontal plane parallel to the plane of the supporting surface of the mattress, the band being adjacent the vertical faces of vthe supporting element opposed to the strip 4and being maintained under tension by the supporting element, the band as maintained under tension by, the supporting element being substantially lineally coextensive with the strip, vthe strip being provided with a continuous sheath open at its ends and in which the band is loosely fitted, the strip and the .band being manually pulled later-ally away from thesupporting element ,to open the pocket to a suitable extenty for thevinsertion of the pendant parts of the sheet, the strip andthe band having a relative slidingy actionwhen theyare pulled laterally away from the supporting element, `the strip having ,terminaly portions which yield relatively to one another when the strip and the band are pulled away from the supporting element, and

lelastic means so connected to the terminal por tionsof the strip as tomaintain the strip normally in fiat relation adjacent the .vertical faces ofthe lsupporting element opposed vtc the fstrip, the band at such time being inv adjoining relation to the pendant rparts of the sheet within the pocket and `cooperating with the adjacent-verticalfaces of the supportingielement in exercising retainingpiessure upon such. parts, said elastic means serving ,to return-the strip to its normal llatrelation adjacent the vertical faces of the pocket when the strip is finally. released after being pulled away from the supporting element in connection with the making of the bed.

v2. Amattress ensemble Aas set forth inclaim l wherein the sheet holding means includes flexible and resilientvertical stays which are fixed tothe strip at theirl upper ends and which tend toooL cupy truey planes, the lower ends of the stays adjoiningA andA reacting against the closed bottom. of the pocket and the staysserving to maintain the vertical extension of the strip and to maintain the ,band with its axisin a horizontalplane parallel to the supporting surface yof the mattress.

3. A mattressensemble asset forth in claim 1 whereinthe-,upper portionof the strip isof two',- ply construction with the inner ply 'attached to the rest of the strip by lines of stitching, portions of the plies between said lines forming the walls of said sheath.

4, A mattress ensemble as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the strip is of twoply construction with the inner ply attached to the rest of the strip by lines of stitching, portions of the plies between said lines forming the walls of said sheath, and the sheet holding means includes exible and resilient vertical stays which tend to occupy true planes, the upper portions of the stays being inserted into the sheath behind the band and secured by the stitching which connects the plies and the lower ends of the stays adjoining and reacting against the closed bottom of the pocket, the stays serving to maintain the Vertical extension of the strip and to maintain he band with its axis in a horizontal plane parallel to the supporting surface of the mattress.

5. A mattress ensemble as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fabric strip substantially circumscribes the mattress supporting element and has its end edges in substantially meeting relation, the band of elastic material is endless and the elastic means comprises strips of elastic material connected to the portions of the strip which adjoin the substantially meeting edges and extending across the space between such edges.

6. A mattress ensemble as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fabric strip extends adjacent the sides and but one of the ends of the supporting element, the ends of the strip are connected to the supporting element adjacent the other end thereof, the elastic means connected to the ends of the strip serves for the connection of the ends of the strip to the supporting element and consists of strips of elastic material which are also connected to the supporting element, and the band has projecting end portions which are connected to the strips of elastic material that provide the elastic means.

'7. A mattress ensemble consisting of a mattress, a supporting element upon which the mattress rests and bottom sheet holding means carried by and cooperating with the mattress supporting element, such means comprising a strip of fabric extending adjacent the sides and at least one end of the supporting element and having its lower edge portion attached to the supporting element adjacent its bottom, the strip cooperating with the adjacent vertical faces of the supporting element to provide a continuous externally located pocket for the reception of the pendant parts of the sheet and of a depth in which said parts may be fitted in at relation with mitered corners, the strip providing flexible outer walls of the pocket and the vertical faces of the mattress supporting element adjacent the strip providing fixed inner walls of the pocket, the lower edge portion of the strip as attached to the supporting element providing a closed bottom for the pocket, the strip being otherwise unattached to the supporting element, and an endless band of elastic material carried by the strip near its upper edge and normally positioned with its axis in a horizontal plane parallel to the plane of the supporting surface of the mattress, the band being adjacent the vertical faces `of the supporting element opposed to the strip and being maintained under tension by the supporting element, the band as maintained under tension by the supporting element being substantially lineally coextensive with the strip, the strip being provided with a continuous sheath open at its ends and in which the band is loosely tted, the strip and the band being manually pulled laterally away from the supporting element to open the pocket to a suitable extent for the insertion of the pendant parts of the sheet, the strip and the band having a relative sliding action when they are pulled laterally away from the supporting element, the strip having terminal portions which yield relatively to one another when the strip is pulled away from the supporting element, the strip being returned to its state of normal iiatness when it is nally released after being pulled away from thesupporting element in connection with the making of the bed.

8. A mattress ensemble as set forth in claim 7 wherein the fabric strip substantially circumscribes the mattress supporting element and has its end edges in substantially meeting relation, and the band of elastic material extends across the space between such edges.

WARREN W. ROSING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Breslauer Nov. 25, 1941 

